Luminaire had the distinction of presenting the most-anticipated event during NeoCon, hosting an extraordinary lecture and exhibition with master designer and architect Patricia Urquiola on Tuesday, June 14th.
Beginning with a lecture at the Museum of Contemporary Art Urquiola richly conveyed the story of her working process, which she described as a series of “delicious disaster.” Sharing images of prototypes, preparatory sketches and even her own photographs of inspiring scenes including work by contemporary artists, a drawing by her daughter and an abandoned chair on the streets of São Paolo, Urquiola’s fearless and free approach became evident. She described her life as existing between the prototype and the finished product.
Luminaire’s exhibition in turn demonstrated the designer’s profound range and unconstrained manner of working. Playing with scale and reinterpreting the past and present, Urquiola draws from memory with a stated interest in examining our tools for living. At the reception for the designer, guests including designers Todd Bracher and Jeffrey Bernett as well as the Art Institute’s Curator of Design, Zoë Ryan, mingled on each floor of the expansive, three-level showroom, which featured Urquiola’s products for B&B Italia as well as selected designs for other manufacturers.
Luminaire expresses its gratitude to B&B Italia for sponsoring this event and also extends a special thank you to the MCA, Flos, Fast Company and Voveti for their additional support.
June 2011
